Somewhere between Friday’s kickoff at the Stade de France just north of Paris and the fifth and final minute of stoppage time in Tuesday’s match in Ljubljana, the U.S. national team played a decent game of soccer.

It didn’t come in the 1-0 loss to France or the 3-2 triumph over Slovenia, nor could it be distilled from a couple of decent halves or periods of obvious domination.

But within the myriad moments and swings of momentum that constituted the two one-goal games, enough good soccer emerged to offer hope, while a few encouraging individual performances served as a comforting reminder that the U.S. does have players who can make an impact on the international level. It also has, contrary to what some might have believed, a coach willing to change things up.

Key concerns emerged in France and Slovenia as well, of course, but for U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann two wins in his first seven games looks a whole lot better than one and five goals is miles better than the mere two his side managed before Tuesday's match.

So with the national team’s 2011 season of upheaval in the books, here are a few things to build on as Klinsmann plans for his January camp and the build-up to World Cup qualifying:

Recognizing strengths

Last month, Klinsmann promised he was developing a system to fit his players, not forcing them to conform to an unattainable ideal.

“It’s always based on the qualities of the players that you have and their strengths,” he said.

Yet the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation he had been employing seemed to do the opposite. It isolated striker Jozy Altidore and put the onus on the defenders and defensive midfielders to build possession out of the back while under pressure, which apparently didn’t suit their strengths at all. And Klinsmann kept sticking with it despite poor results.

On Tuesday against Slovenia, Klinsmann demonstrated his flexibility, using a more traditional 4-2-2 formation that partnered Altidore with Edson Buddle. The coach also gave veteran midfielder Michael Bradley, who had fallen down the pecking order, his second start during the new regime.

There were problems with the formation on the defensive side, as lone defensive midfielder Kyle Beckerman was overwhelmed at times. Miscommunication between the midfielders and back four also led to a host of breakdowns in the U.S. half, and the Americans were fortunate to yield only two goals.

But Bradley and newcomer Fabian Johnson blossomed going forward, playing the sort of penetrating, proactive passes that Klinsmann wants to see. Meanwhile, the presence provided by a second forward meant the U.S. had options in the attack, while the pressure forced more turnovers higher up the field.

Was it perfect? No. But the fact Klinsmann was willing to try it should put minds at ease. He is willing to mix it up and able to implement multiple systems. That’s a good sign.

Speaking of Bradley and Johnson ...

Both Bradley and Johnson are known primarily as defensive midfielders, but both made a compelling case Tuesday that they deserve minutes and the opportunity to focus on both sides of the ball.

Johnson, 23, earned his second international cap Tuesday and looked composed and dangers on the ball, covering ground and linking well with his teammates. He also drew a penalty kick foul in the first half with a skillful turn on Slovenian defender Mišo Brečko, a World Cup and Bundesliga veteran.

Bradley couldn’t have done much more to prove he warrants a regular place in Klinsmann’s starting 11. Bradley's willingness to run for 90 minutes and his ability to find space and time when he receives the ball to look up, see the field and make a good decision sets him apart. Plus, his free kicks and corner kicks were excellent Tuesday, with one first-half delivery resulting in a goal from Clint Dempsey.

"We know that Michael has tremendous qualities, in his commitment, where he can cover so much ground, how he stays calm, very experienced," Klinsmann told ESPN.

When Klinsmann has to sit down and figure out how to find space for the likes of Landon Donovan and Brek Shea, that’s a good thing.

Buddle’s back

Yes, the former L.A. Galaxy marksman had left the national team picture. The 30-year-old’s decision to leave MLS for the German second division following his 19-goal outburst in 2010 still seems kind of odd, and there’s been an out-of-sight-out-of-mind feeling about Buddle as he’s toiled in relative anonymity across the Atlantic.

But has scored a few goals for FC Ingolstadt, and on Tuesday he got just his second national team start this year. Within a minute, Buddle served notice that he’d make it count with a pass to Johnson that resulted in a dangerous shot on goal. Buddle then scored a gorgeous opening goal in the ninth, firing the ball out of the air and off the inside of the left post from about 25 yards out.

The U.S. needs players who can finish like that, and Buddle proved Tuesday he’s still in the picture.

"Edson is to a point where he's at his best again," Klinsmann told ESPN.

Goalkeeping greatness

Tim Howard’s outstanding performance in the loss to France drew praise from coach and former World Cup champion Laurent Blanc and prompted Klinsmann to call the 32-year-old goalie one of “the best five or six in the world” and a player that “other nations are jealous of.”

He’ll need to be that, because the back four—ironically for a team that scored two goals in Klinsmann’s first six games—could cause the coach some big headaches in the coming months. There are players on the attacking end, like Dempsey and Altidore, who Klinsmann knows should be on the field. It’s not quite that clear in defense.

Veteran Steve Cherundolo has slipped since this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and had several unsightly turnovers Tuesday. Left back Timmy Chandler was caught too far forward numerous times against Slovenia, and central defender Clarence Goodson was beaten soundly in both games.

None are a lost cause, of course, and there were several good individual moments against France. Captain Carlos Bocanegra demonstrated his worth in Paris but didn’t have the best of games against Slovenia.

The obvious partner for Bocanegra in the middle, Oguchi Onyewu, can’t seem to stay healthy, and there are a host of potential call-ups playing in MLS that Klinsmann has ignored so far.

The coach must experiment back there, and he has said he wants his defense to play higher up the field. That’s a riskier proposition that will require even more discipline, skill and savvy from Howard. Luckily for the U.S., he has those qualities.